Deputy Given Medal Of Valor For Fire Rescue

Hero out of uniform

DELAND — He has spent most of his life in uniform - as a deputy, Marine, National Guardsman and Cub Scout leader.

Monday, Charles ''Chuck'' Lockwood was awarded a medal for a heroic deed he performed in jeans.

A 10-year-veteran of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, Lockwood received the Medal of Valor - the department's second-highest honor after a Medal of Merit - for rescuing a woman from her burning home last month when he was off-duty.

''I practically live in a uniform of one kind or another,'' Lockwood said Monday. ''And, I usually feel more comfortable in a uniform than anything else.''

His lack of comfort in civilian clothes didn't show Jan. 18 when he sprang into action to help a person in need.

Lockwood, 46, had just pulled into his driveway in Daytona Park Estates when a neighbor drove up about 4:30 p.m. and yelled that a house was on fire a block away.

When he arrived moments later, smoke was rolling out of the garage.

Neighbors told him they knew that the owner of the house - DeLand High School teacher Sharon Shavers - was inside.

Lockwood reported the fire on his car's radio, then looked for a way inside. The locked front door seemed formidable, so he went around to the back.

''I put my shoulder into the back door about three times and busted it open,'' he said.

What he found was a house darkened by dense smoke and the sounds of fire crackling in the garage.

After searching the confusing maze of rooms for several minutes, Lockwood made his way coughing and choking to a light switch, which helped him see his way to the bedroom and bath.

''I opened the bathroom window and took several breaths and then went back in and felt around on the waterbed,'' he said.

He found Shavers lying on the side of the bed semiconscious and helped her back through the smoky hallways. When they reached the kitchen, she collapsed and Lockwood dragged her the rest of the way.

''A few minutes after I got her outside, the fire department got there and they gave her oxygen,'' he said. ''I hung around a few minutes and asked if they needed me for anything else. They said no, so I went home.''

Shavers was treated at Memorial Hospital-West Volusia in DeLand.

It wasn't until a few hours later - when investigators showed up at Lockwood's house - that his wife, Judy, found out about her husband's courageous actions.

''When they said he was a hero, I said 'I always knew he was my hero,' '' she said. ''I wasn't surprised. He's a good police officer, he loves his job and takes it very seriously.''

She said she is quite proud of him but feels bad that with all the commotion that night she forgot to make him supper.

''He told me later he was going to ask me to make him a hero sandwich,'' she laughed.

Other sheriff's employees also are proud of Lockwood.

''Since I've been with the department, I've only seen four or five medals of valor awarded,'' said Capt. Randy Burnsed, a deputy for several years and the supervisor who penned a letter to Volusia Sheriff Bob Vogel recommending the award.

''We don't have a lot of training with fires, and we usually leave them to the fire department,'' Burnsed said. ''And because of that, I felt the danger involved merited the award.

''To do something like that, you can't think about it at the time, you just do it,'' he said.

''And he's the kind of deputy that when you get into a situation where you need a backup, you know Chuck's going to be there for you.''